History of Rock n’ Roll Chapter 1:

History of Rock n’ RollChapter 1: Roots of Rock n’ Roll

Origins of Rock n’ Roll • Blues originated as a mixture of African slaves’ native musical styles & European styles of music • many African cultures placed much more emphasis on the need for rhythm over harmony • developed as a way to overcome the monotony of field labor on plantations • Southern (Delta) blues themes tend to focus more on sullen, “down” themes • Due to its “birth” from the oppression of slavery

“King of the Delta Blues Men” Robert Johnson (1911-1938) • called the “Godfather of Rock n’ Roll” • Guitar skill attributed to the “devil legend” • Inspiration for Tommy in O’ Brother, Where Art Thou? • Very few actual recording sessions • “complete” catalogue only 29 tracks • No proof how he died, but all 3 legends involve poison & a woman • Songs of Interest: • Cross Road Blues • I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom

Blues was primarily confined to the south until after WWI (1919), when many African Americans head north to Chicago “Big Bill” Broonzy (1898-1958) • Son of slaves, 16 brothers & sisters • 1907 - made his first fiddle out of a cigar box • Worked as a plow hand, preacher, railroad worker, waiter, piano mover • Served in WWI, moved to Chicago in 1920 • Got first recording contract in 1924 • Worked odd-jobs while making music until a European tour in 1951 • Died of throat cancer in 1958 • Song of interest: Key to the Highway

Broonzy said: • “The blues won’t die because spirituals won’t die. Blues is a steal from spirituals, and Rock is a steal from the blues…” • 1940-1944: African-American immigration to Chicago increases by almost 75% • While Delta blues was acoustic, the blues sound that developed in Chicago was electrified. • Urban Blues reflected optimism for the many who had moved north and escaped the lifestyles of their parents and grandparents

Blind Lemon Jefferson • b. July 1897, d. Dec 1930 • Born blind & Given name was actually Lemon • Worked around Texas as a teenager, then hoboed through the South. • 1925 – signed to Paramount records • Recorded blues under his own name, recorded religious songs under the name Deacon L.J. Bates • Best selling artist among “race records” until his death in 1930 • Coined term “booger rooger” (wild party), becomes “boogie-woogie” • Influenced many later blues artists like Lightnin’ Hopkins, T-Bone Walker, & B.B. King • Songs of Interest: • Black Snake Moan

T-Bone Walker • Aaron Thibeaux Walker • T-bone developed from his mom’s pet name “T-Bow” • b. 5/28/10, d. 3/16/75 • From family of musicians, Blind Lemon Jefferson was family friend • Served as Jefferson’s “lead boy” around Dallas • By 1930, playing all across the country • 1935 – 1st recording blues musician to use electrified guitar • First recorded as T-Bone in 1942 • Known for a lively on stage show, playing with his teeth, behind his head, or using drumsticks • Toured through the 40s, 50s & 60s Song of Interest: - Call It Stormy Monday

From the Mississippi Delta to Muddy Waters Muddy Waters • Born McKinley Morganfield 4/4/1915 • nicknamed “Muddy” by his grandmother • Made a name for himself by age 17 playing at parties • emulated earlier blues artists Son House & Robert Johnson • Moved to Chicago in 1940, but moved back to Mississippi by 1941

Recorded for the Library of Congress in 1941 • moved back to Chicago & started playing bars • had to have an amp to be heard over noise in Chicago bars • Wanted his blues to “have a little pep” • Winner of 6 Grammys • 1987 – inducted into Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame • 4 songs on Rn’R HOF list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock • Songs of Interest: • Rollin’ Stone • Hoochie Coochie Man • Mannish Boy • Got My Mojo Working

Howlin’ Wolf • Chester Burnett (1910-1976) • Nicknamed “the Wolf”, tried a style of yodeling got called “the Howler” • Close friend of Muddy Waters • Had a very lively stage act, predecessor of rock performers • Won Grammy for Smokestack Lightening (1956) • 1991 - inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame • 3 songs on the 500 Song that Shaped Rock n’ Roll • Songs of Interest: • Smokestack Lightening • Back Door Man • Spoonful

Little Walter • Walter Jacobs • b. 5/1/30 d. 2/15/68 • Supposedly the first to amplify a harmonica • Caught the attention of Muddy Waters in the 1940s • Moved north when the blues scene centralized in Chicago • Recorded and toured with Waters throughout the 1950s • Had seven Top 10 R&B albums in the 1950s • Influenced a generation of blues harmonica players • Known for a violent temper and a love of drink, died after a bar fight 1968 • Songs of Interest: • Juke(#1 R&B, 1952) • My Babe

Riley “B.B.” King • Born Sept. 16, 1925 • Delta influenced & mixed a jazz sound in his music • Bought his 1st guitar in 1937 • Trademark Gibson, nicknamed “Lucille” • Started recording music in 1949 • Grew up picking cotton on a plantation • Worked as a DJ in the early ’50s • Where he earned the nickname “B.B.” • Radio name was “Beale Street Blues Boy • Recognized by the mainstream as the face of modern blues

First big hit was Three O’clock Blues (#1 R&B, 1951) • Consistently a record seller and concert performer; King’s only Top 20 pop hit was The Thrill Is Gone (#15, 1970) • Although he had a “Farewell Tour” in 2006, he continues to make music today (2009) • 52 albums in 60 years • Winner of 15 Grammy awards • Including the Lifetime Achievement Grammy 1987 • Inducted into the RnR HOF in 1987 • Songs of Interest: • Every Day I Have the Blues • The Thrill Is Gone • Humming Bird • Paying the Cost to Be the Boss

Buddy Guy • George Guy • b. 7/30/36 • 1957 - left Baton Rouge for Chicago • Gets a break when he’s allowed to sit in w/ Otis Rush • Got him a regular gig at the 708 Club • Caught the ear of Willie Dixon, got a recording contract w/ Chess Records • Worked as studio guitarist for Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf • Left Chess in 1968, due to contract dispute • Eric Clapton called Guy the greatest guitar player alive • 2005 – inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Winner of 5 Grammy Awards

John Lee Hooker • b. 8/22/1917 d. 6/21/01 • One of 11 children • First instrument was an innertube stretched across a barn door • Taught basics of guitar by his stepfather • Blind Lemon Jefferson another early influence • 1931 – moved to Memphis & worked on Beale St. • Blues career took root in Detroit in late 1930s • Songs of Interest: • Boom, Boom • One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

Started recording in the late 1940s • Initially a singles-only artist • Released music under several pseudonyms • 1st release Boogie Chillen sold a million copies, I’m in the Mood sold another million copies in 1951 • Through the 50s’ & 60s he toured the UK and Europe • By the end of the 60s, he had teamed up with American group, Canned Heat for Hooker n’ Heat • His career sagged in the 80s, but he had an unlikely revival in the 1990s, playing with artists like Van Morrison, Keith Richards, Albert Collins, & Carlos Santana • Inducted into the R&R HoF in 1991 • Won 4 Grammy awards (all 1990-2000) • 2 songs (Boogie Chillen’ & Boom Boom) on R&R HoF 500 Songs that Shaped Rock n’ Roll

Tin Pan Alley Era • To appreciate the impact of Rock n’ Roll, you have to understand what was on the airwaves in the early 1950s • Jazz sounds, dominated by white performers • Blues considered “race music” • Typical lyrics – non-offensive, noncontroversial, often dealt with boy/girl romantic love • Songs - usually slow / moderate tempo, with orchestral accompaniment & a small chorus • Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Johnny Ray, Eddie Fisher, Nat “King” Cole • Cole one of a very few black pop singers

Country Music • In the 1920s & 30s it was never referred to as “country” music • Old timey music • Music from Dixie • Old familiar tunes • Later it became known as “hillbilly” music • These would be the songs you would here from O’ Brother Where Art Thou? • Despite the fact that Southern culture was viewed as degenerate, the music had a following • Hillbilly music appealed to many around America because the South stood for traditional values and orthodox religion

The Carter Family • Recorded from 1928-1956 • Comprised of A.P., his wife Sarah & her sister Maybelle • A.P. & Sara divorced in 1939, continued to play until 1941 • Maybelle went on tour with here 3 daughters (Helen, Anita, & June) • The Carters re-formed in 1952 and continued to record until 1956 • Songs of interest: • The Wabash Cannonball • Will the Circle Be Unbroken • Keep On the Sunny Side

Jimmie Rodgers • First real “star” of country music • Style a combination of hillbilly & blues • Worked on the railroad until he began recording in 1927 • Inspired many “hillbilly” acts from the southwest • Led to the “westernization” of country music • Inducted to Rock n’ Roll HOF - 1986 Songs of Interest: • Blue Yodel #9 • In the Jailhouse Now

Racism in Music • Music & entertainment was segregated in the 1940s & 50s • In the 1940s, African Americans had money to spend after WWII & wanted to be entertained but • Weren’t welcomed in white clubs, even if performers were black • Radio was white-oriented, no black performers on network radio • Blues, jazz & even pop by most black performers not sold in same stores as white performers

Whites did not listen to “black music”, and African Americans were not given a choice • Black performers did not appear on pop charts, likewise for white performers on R&B charts • Since music did not “cross-over”, if there was a popular R&B song, it got covered by a pop singer • While not mainstream, R&B was gaining a following among high school & college age whites around the US by 1954 • Soon, music as the world knew it was going to be turned on it’s head

History of Rock n’ Roll Chapter 1: